2004 5.3L exhaust modification

[dmband77]

Hey all. I'm kind of new to this whole forum thing so please bare with me. I just bought a 2004 silverado with the 5.3L. I'm looking to modify it. Firstly, I'd like a new exhaust. I'd like something to give it a few more horsepower and something that'll give it a nice throaty sound. I don't want it to be obnoxiously loud though. Any suggestions?

[2004 Sierra Z71]

corsa !

[99chevysilvy]

Well what kind of sound do u want?

[AZdragger]

:word:

if it's a flow through muffler like dynomax or magnaflow, the longer the case, the meloower the sound.

for performance, this type of design is much better then the chambered mufflers like flowmasters

[OKLAGMCRUISER]

Can't go wrong with Borla.

[99chevysilvy]

Do u have pics of ur truck? Did urs come with leather interior? I heard that is all they come with anymore and i dont want that. That, and the shit with the electric thorttle shit they changed from the 99-02 trucks to the 03-up. They say the 03-04's dont have as good thorttle response as the 99-02's had.???

[ocwave]

Hey all. I'm kind of new to this whole forum thing so please bare with me. I just bought a 2004 silverado with the 5.3L. I'm looking to modify it. Firstly, I'd like a new exhaust. I'd like something to give it a few more horsepower and something that'll give it a nice throaty sound. I don't want it to be obnoxiously loud though. Any suggestions?

you need to decide on a straight thru v. chambered type of muffler. i would really try to find a few trucks to listen to before you decide. i would also recommend stainless steal. everything else will show rust in less than a year.

as far as hp/tq gains. a straight thru design will outflow a chambered design. all straight thru designs will flow about the same... +/- 1-2 hp. you dont have to worry as much about back pressure on the 4.8/5.3/6.0 .....although a very unrestricted exhaust will lose low end torque. chambered designs (flowmaster) dont flow as well (for the most part) but still see good solid gains

do a search on flowmaster, dynomax, borla, magnaflow, B&B.... all great brands. tbyrne has great prices on complete catback sets, or a local muffler shop could weld in a replacement muffler for you

if you hear a chevy with custom exhaust, ask the owner about it - truck owners love to talk about their rides. see if you like it. i love my corsa system, but some think its a little too loud. check out the corsa site for sound clips.

good luck, and welcome to the site!

[ADDICTED]

I say The Gibson Dual sport. Not loud but loud enough so people no have a high performance Chevy. I Like it becuase it doesn't drive me niuts inside the cab like so many others

[97VORTEC]

my brother just put on a corsa system with duel rear tips. At first it wasnt too loud but after about a week it sounded bad ass. at idle is pretty low but at high rpm's it sounds like a dam corvette. corsa is expensive as hell but its the best iv heard yet.

[97VORTEC]

p.s his trouck is a 2003 chevy short bed standard cab with the 4.8

[dmband77]

thanks for all of the input you have all supplied me with. please keep it coming. it'll help narrow down my decision. I wanted to add......I'd like to ahve something that has good depth and rumble to it at idol and has decent sound to it at cruising rpm.

[LikeaRock14]

I'm getting really tired of saying this, but at least you havent asked it more than once like someone else :repuke:
But you can only get it so loud and deep at idle. Cruise, it may depends, but at idle you're barely forcing enough cfm's through the muffler to get a loud rumble, or fairly deep rumble at that. A freer flowing muffler will show some improvement, but I think you get the pictue :D

Ocwave hit it right on the moolah though. The only thing I would add is about chamebered mufflers. They are prone to drone more under cruise speeds than a straight through muffler, mainly Flowmasters though. If you're planning on Flowmasters, I'd say the 50 series Delta Flow stainless muffler is the way to go. A mellow deep roar under acceleration, with it being pretty damn noticeable, yet at cruise speeds it won't be overbearing. If so, you're OLD :LOL: j/k :D

For the deep powerful sound you want without it being too obxoxiously loud, I'd reccomend a Borla Pro XS or an 18" Magnaflow. The Magnaflow will have a mellow deep roar unver acceleration, yet at cruise spees be pretty damn comfortable, compared to the Flowmaster. Straight through mufflers like this provide a deeper, richer, more "powerful" exhaust "note" more than a "tone" like Flowmasters give. I don't really know how clear that is, but I can elaborate later if needed, hehe.

A Borla Pro XS will be pretty similar in sound, yet a bit louder overall than the 18" Magnaflow. IMO their mufflers (Borla) sound awesome on 5.3's when it comes to using a straight through muffler. There will be resonance", i/e sound inside, with either, but not any typical dron. At slower cruise speeds it might possibly be there, but it's nothing ever unbearable. I'm one to hate droning exhausts syetms anyways, so I was suprised to see Borla is actually fairl quiet at cruise speeds.

Either way, with whatever you get, I think you'll be pleased

Dolan

[99chevysilvy]

Well i guess i will put my opinion in. How much r u looking to spend? I have pics of a 99 silverado 2wd of the exhaust underneath if u need help or something. Uhh People might say no to this and they might say it will drone and stuff but to me its quiet inside all the sound is outside but it matters where u run ur tips too. I would say go with true duals 2.5'' pipes and two 40 series orig. flows and where ever u want them to come out at. That my opinion and i have done 130 mph in that truck and didnt hear it at all inside even doing 80 on the interstate. Its quiet at idle but gets louder as u give it more gas and especially when u floor it from a stop or something it will sound SWEET....

[LikeaRock14]

Yes, but an 80 most mufflers don't drone

Typical drone rpm's range from 1500-2300 w/ most vehicles. 15-1800 seems to be the worst. And I STILL reccomend 2.25" pipe :D

[99chevysilvy]

His truck DOES NOT have any drone at all. It is pretty sweet.

[97chevy454]

i have a friend that has an 04 scsb with a 5.3 he first put magnaflow on it and finally got tired of it after about 6 months so he put v-force mufflers on it (made by flo pro) it sounded alot better,not real loud but still gets your attention, and you could feel the difference in power(for what reason i do not know).